[DeTomaso] Suitability of Distilled Water in Cooling System [WAS: need advice before I cry]

Tue Nov 3 13:54:58 EST 2009

>From Wiki.

Applications

In chemical and biological laboratories, as well as industry, cheaper
alternatives such as deionized
water<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Purified_water#Deionization>are
preferred over distilled water. However, if these alternatives are not
sufficiently pure, distilled water is used. Where exceptionally high purity
water is required, double distilled
water<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Purified_water#Double-distillation>is
used.

Distilled water is also commonly used to top off lead acid
batteries<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lead_acid_batteries>used in
cars and trucks. The presence of other ions commonly found in tap
water will cause a drastic reduction in an automobile's battery lifespan.

Distilled water is preferable to tap water for use in automotive cooling
systems. The minerals and ions typically found in tap water can be corrosive
to internal engine components, and can cause a more rapid depletion of the
anti-corrosion additives found in most
antifreeze<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Antifreeze>formulations.
[1] <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Distilled_water#cite_note-0>

Using distilled water in steam irons
<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ironing>for pressing clothes can help
reduce mineral build-up and make the iron last
longer. However, many iron manufacturers say that distilled water is no
longer necessary in their
irons.[2]<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Distilled_water#cite_note-1>

Some people use distilled water for household
aquariums<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aquarium>because it lacks the
chemicals found in tap
water <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tap_water> supplies. It is important to
supplement distilled water when using it for
fishkeeping<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fishkeeping>;
it is too pure to sustain proper chemistry to support an aquarium ecosystem.
[3] <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Distilled_water#cite_note-2>

Distilled water is also an essential component for use in cigar
humidors<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Humidor>.
Mineral build-up resulting from the use of tap water (including bottled
water <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bottled_water>) will reduce the
effectiveness of the humidor.

In addition, some home brewers, who are interested in brewing a Traditional
European Pilsner, will dilute their hard water with distilled water so as to
mimic the soft waters of
Pilsen.[4]<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Distilled_water#cite_note-3>

Another application is to cool off airplane engines before takeoff, as was
used on the early Boeing 707
<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boeing_707>.[5]<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Distilled_water#cite_note-4>
[edit<http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Distilled_water&action=edit&section=2>
] Drinking distilled water

Drinking distilled water is quite common. Many beverage manufacturers use
distilled water to ensure a drink's purity and taste. Bottled distilled
water is sold as well, and can usually be found in
supermarkets<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Supermarkets>.
Water purification <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Water_purification>, such
as distillation, is especially important in regions where water resources or
tap water is not suitable for ingesting without boiling or chemical
treatment.

Water filtration devices are common in many households. Most of these
devices do not distill water, though there continues to be an increase in
consumer-oriented water
distillers<http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Water_distiller&action=edit&redlink=1>and
reverse
osmosis <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reverse_osmosis> machines being sold
and used. Municipal water supplies often add or have trace impurities at
levels which are regulated to be safe for consumption. Much of these
additional impurities, such as volatile organic
compounds<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Volatile_organic_compounds>,
fluoride <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fluoride>, and certain other chemical
compounds are not removed through conventional filtration; however,
distillation does eliminate some of these impurities.

Distilled water is also used as drinking water in arid seaside areas which
do not have sufficient freshwater, by distilling
seawater.[6]<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Distilled_water#cite_note-5>

It is quite common on ships, especially nuclear powered
ships<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nuclear_ship>,
which require a large supply of distilled water as coolant. The drinking
water is produced in desalination
plants<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Desalination_plant>,
needed to boil water. Alternative technologies like reverse
osmosis<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reverse_osmosis>are becoming
increasingly important in this regard due to their greatly
reduced costs.

If it's good enough for a nuclear power plant, I think the Pantera is safe.

Michael

On Tue, Nov 3, 2009 at 1:35 PM, <JDeRyke at aol.com> wrote:

> In a message dated 11/2/09 7:54:38 PM, garth_rodericks at yahoo.com writes:
>
> From the 'No-rosion' info page:
> > ...The problem is that when water is distilled, or “stripped” of
> > impurities, the resulting solution is composed of chemically imbalanced
> “ions.”
> > This leaves distilled water “electrochemically
> > hungry,” so it will actually strip electrons from the metals in a cooling
> > system as it attempts to chemically re-balance itself. As it chemically
> > removes electrons from the cooling system metals, it does damage that
> will
> > eventually lead to leaks.....
> >
> Translating this, it means that distilled water is acidic- about the same
> as Coca Cola in terms of metal dissolving power. So 'DI' water doesn't stay
> pure more than a few minutes after entering your likely already-limed-up
> cooling system and beginning its dissolving act. FWIW, I never use DI water
> for
> anything except the battery. Good luck- J Deryke
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-- 

Michael L. Shortt
Savannah, Georgia
www.michaelshortt.com
michael at michaelshortt.com
912-232-9390

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